Yunseol’s eyes froze for an instant.
“...Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”
Wolhwa did not answer.
Instead, she slowly lifted the document.
“An urgent report from the western vassal state.”
She unfolded the document and continued.
“That insignificant little country has come to bargain, saying it will reduce its tribute.”
Silence fell at once.
“Do you think I will accept?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Jang Munyeon spoke.
“You must accept it, Your Majesty.”
He continued without hesitation.
“Though it is a small nation, the situation will change if it joins hands with other tribes. If we are not careful, it could become a great burden on the court.”
As he spoke, he lowered his gaze.
“Now is not the time.”
In the south, King Jeongan was already making his move.
There was no one who did not know that fact.
That was why the western vassal state also thought this was its chance.
A strange look spread through Wolhwa’s eyes.
“...Is that so?”
Be prudent. Wait. Watch for the right time.
In the end, it meant: do nothing.
Her lips pressed firmly together.
Inwardly, she had already reached a conclusion.
But she still had to gauge the timing.
Her gaze naturally turned to Yuk Yunseo.
He had yet to say a word, but she could vaguely guess what answer he would give.
Yunseo opened his mouth.
“We must fight.”
It was a decisive statement.
Even as the court stirred, he did not stop.
“If we lose the initiative, we will be dragged around from that moment on. If we let them move first, we will be left forever chasing after them.”
Yunseo’s eyes narrowed.
“If we do not strike now, it will be too late.”
“Yuk Yunseo!”
The ministers all revealed their anger at once.
“Do you think inciting war is loyalty?”
“Do you mean to ruin the nation?”
Condemnation poured down on Yunseo from every side.
It was then.
“Is that loyalty?”
Yunseol stepped forward.
Her gaze sharpened in an instant.
“If claiming with your mouths that you will protect the nation is loyalty, then such loyalty is unnecessary.”
For a moment, all voices abruptly ceased.
“Is a peace worth preserving if it means handing over the country?”
When her words struck the heart of the matter, no one could answer.
The Duke’s face hardened.
“General So, mind your words.”
He spoke in a low voice.
“Who said we should hand over the country? We are saying we should observe the situation.”
Yunseol’s gaze fixed directly on the Duke.
“You lose a country while observing the situation.”
She threw out the words without hesitation.
Wolhwa’s eyes changed.
A clear fighting spirit filled them.
“Good.”
She spoke with force.
“Let us clash with them once.”
At that moment—
“Your Majesty!”
The ministers dropped to their knees all at once, striking their heads against the floor one after another.
“Please withdraw your august command!”
“Now is not the time!”
The court was overturned in an instant.
Amid it all, Wolhwa’s expression turned cold and rigid.
“...Enough.”
Her voice was drained of strength.
“Withdraw.”
After the day came to an end.
Wolhwa did not leave her seat.
“Did you see?”
Her voice held suppressed rage.
“I must read those bastards’ faces just to make a decision.”
Her eyes slowly sank, losing their light.
“Is this what a monarch is?”
Yunseo raised his head.
“You are being hasty.”
He spoke calmly.
“They are watching for an opportunity right now. They know Your Majesty’s foundation is still weak.”
Wolhwa’s eyes narrowed.
“And so?”
Yunseo’s gaze remained unwavering and still.
“If we step forward now, we will be the first to suffer.”
A short silence lingered.
“Then it will be over.”
Yunseol gritted her teeth.
“King Jeongan is making his move.”
The moment that name fell, the air grew heavy.
Wolhwa spoke in a low voice.
“I know that too.”
Her gaze went completely cold.
“I cannot allow a man like that to seize the realm.”
Yunseo nodded.
“But we will not fight now.”
Wolhwa’s eyes widened for an instant.
“...What?”
“We wait for the right moment.”
His voice was firm.
“The moment when we can win most certainly.”
For a while, no one spoke.
“At that moment, we end it all at once.”
Wolhwa looked at him.
“...Yuk Yunseo. Do you intend to lead me?”
Yunseo did not answer.
He merely bowed his head.
“I will only follow if Your Majesty commands it.”
Wolhwa, who had paused in thought for a moment, nodded.
“Good. I will leave it to you.”
Yunseo’s eyes grew clear.
“Then we must put on a play.”
He brought it up as if it were nothing.
“I will draw up a plan at once. In tomorrow’s court, say that you are canceling the war.”
Wolhwa’s eyes narrowed.
Yunseo continued.
“Outwardly, we must pretend to retreat.”
He deliberately stopped speaking.
“In the meantime, General So and I will move.”
A distinct light gathered in his eyes.
“By the time they realize it, it will already be too late.”
Wolhwa’s gaze remained fixed on Yunseo as silence flowed between them.
“...Good.”
One corner of Wolhwa’s mouth lifted slightly.
“I will do as you say.”
Yunseo immediately bowed his head.
“Then I will go make preparations.”
Just as he was about to turn away—
“Wait.”
Wolhwa’s voice caught him.
“Why can you not do it here?”
Her eyes wavered greatly.
“Is there something I must not hear?”
Yunseo laughed softly.
“How could that be?”
Then he lowered his gaze.
“The moment this news leaks, the entire plan will go awry. When that happens, everything Your Majesty wishes to do will be blocked.”
Wolhwa’s wavering eyes stayed on his for a long while.
And then—
“...Enough.”
She waved her hand.
“There is always a reason behind your words. I will ask no more.”
Her expression was indifferent, but a trace of displeasure remained somewhere within it.
Yunseo did not miss it.
He looked at Wolhwa for a moment, then withdrew his gaze.
Then he looked at Yunseol.
“General So. Return for today. We will speak again tomorrow.”
Yunseol hesitated briefly.
But she asked no further.
“...Understood.”
She bowed her head and withdrew.
When the door closed, Wolhwa snorted.
“You sent everyone away. Why are you not leaving?”
Yunseo quietly shifted his gaze and swept it over the surroundings.
Understanding his meaning, Wolhwa spoke.
“Everyone, withdraw.”
Once the palace maids had left, only the two of them remained.
Yunseo took one step closer.
And then—
He naturally took her hand.
At that moment.
“...What are you doing?”
Wolhwa’s eyes sharpened.
“Why are you touching me? Is there not someone else who will stay by your side?”
Her words were spat out coldly, but another emotion was mixed within them.
Yunseo did not let go of her hand.
Instead, he held it even more firmly.
“Your Majesty.”
Yunseo let the words flow slowly.
“This is not the time to be swayed by emotion.”
His gaze gradually deepened.
“We must use every person in the court who can be used.”
He paused for a moment, leaving room in his words.
“So Yunseol is no exception.”
Wolhwa’s eyes blinked wildly for an instant.
Yunseo continued, unconcerned.
“What she wants is not simple revenge. It is more than that.”
Coldly.
And firmly.
“That is why she is even more worth using.”
In that instant, a chill ran down Wolhwa’s spine.
This man.
He was too cold.
She could not read a single emotion from him.
She slowly opened her mouth.
“...Yuk Yunseo.”
She asked carefully.
“What do you think of me?”
Yunseo’s gaze stopped for a moment.
And then—
“An ally.”
It was an answer utterly unlike what Wolhwa had hoped for.
“Your Majesty and I are on the same side.”
A faint shadow fell over Wolhwa’s eyes.
Several emotions passed through them at once.
But she did not show it.
“...Good.”
She forced herself to sound unconcerned and spoke briefly.
“Then do as you wish. I will gladly follow you.”
Yunseo nodded.
And then—
“...Your wound.”
He immediately spoke with concern.
“Is it all right?”
That one sentence was the beginning.
—
Wolhwa relaxed her body and deliberately leaned toward Yunseo.
Startled, he had no choice but to catch her by reflex.
“Your Majesty?”
Flustered, Yunseo called to Wolhwa, but no answer came back.
Thinking only that her old wound had flared up, he hurriedly lifted her in his arms and laid her on the bed.
At that moment, Wolhwa seized Yunseo’s hand.
Then she pulled him down hard.
His balance broke.
Their gazes drew close.
Close enough for their breaths to touch.
Just as Yunseo was about to speak, Wolhwa lunged over him and pressed her lips to his.
His bewilderment lasted only a moment.
He soon regained his senses, pressed her down, and took back control.
—
How much time had passed?
Wolhwa lay quietly, leaning in Yunseo’s embrace.
Her slender fingertips slowly brushed over his face.
“...Sometimes.”
Wolhwa let out a low sigh and spoke.
“I also—”
She began to speak, then closed her mouth for a moment.
In that brief gap, countless thoughts flashed past.
“Want to put all of this down.”